The tanker endorsement is to drive a tanker type of trailer. There are 2 types of tanker trailers that I know of baffled and smooth bore.

Baffled means that there are bulwarks seperating the tank into section with holes in the bulwark to help control the amount of surge when starting or stopping. Smooth bore is a tanker that doesn't have the bulwarks these are mostly used for dairy as you they are easier to clean and sterilize between each use.

Baffle:

A partition or separator within a liquid tank, used to inhibit the flow of fluids within the tank. During acceleration, turning, and braking, a large liquid-filled tank may produce unexpected forces on the vehicle due to the inertia of liquids.

The tanker endorsement is to drive a tanker type of trailer. There are 2 types of tanker trailers that I know of baffled and smooth bore.

Baffled means that there are bulwarks seperating the tank into section with holes in the bulwark to help control the amount of surge when starting or stopping. Smooth bore is a tanker that doesn't have the bulwarks these are mostly used for dairy as you they are easier to clean and sterilize between each use.

While that is true from the most part it's not completely true. There are different type of liquid healing applications that are not the normal tanker trailer. All drivers that work for a LTL company must maintain hazmat and tanker endorsements even though the are dry van. Portable tanks, tanks that are not permanently attacked to a trailer but can still haul liquid, need a tanker endorsement and these can be healed in a dry van trailer while being secured to the floor.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

LTL:

Less Than Truckload

Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.

LTL carriers include:

FedEx Freight

Con-way

YRC Freight

UPS

Old Dominion

Estes

Yellow-Roadway

ABF Freight

R+L Carrier

Baffle:

A partition or separator within a liquid tank, used to inhibit the flow of fluids within the tank. During acceleration, turning, and braking, a large liquid-filled tank may produce unexpected forces on the vehicle due to the inertia of liquids.

Dry Van:

A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.

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